Infused/Special Finished Whiskey Archives – Page 7 of 9

Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon

Posted on 06-June-202129-May-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon Review

Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon reviewed on 01-June-2021

HILLROCK SOLERA AGED BOURBON SUMMARY:

We’ve been rummaging through our bunker lately finding unicorns we’ve set aside. Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon (Hillrock Solera) is one of these finds and the unique bottle shape made it hard to to pass by. I’m glad we popped the cork on this one. Fresh aromas of citrus and brown sugar provide a solid foundation for flavors of raisin and fig heavily seasoned with ginger, black and green pepper and rye. While this bourbon may be hard to find and won’t become a daily drinker, it will be nice to have around when looking for something different.

HILLROCK SOLERA AGED BOURBON VITAL STATS:

Classification: Infused/Special Finished Whiskey
Region: Hudson Valley, New York
Company: Hillrock Estate Distillery
Distillery: Blend of sourced bourbon (from an undisclosed source) and Hillrock Estate distilled bourbon
Mashbill: Undisclosed, reported to be high rye
ABV: 46.3 (92.6 Proof)
Age: NAS
Price: 79.95 USD in Idaho (2019)
Released: Ongoing
Availability: Allocated, rare
Bottle reviewed is from Barrel No. 45

HILLROCK SOLERA AGED BOURBON BACKSTORY:

^{“Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon is the first American whiskey to be aged in the centuries-old Solera method used traditionally to create exceptional Sherries, Ports, Madeiras, and Cognacs. Recognized internationally, the award whiskey is finished in 20 year old Oloroso Sherry casks …}
^{… Solera aging involves a pyramid of barrels where a small portion of whiskey is removed periodically from the lowest tier of barrels and an equal measure of new whiskey is added to the top barrels. No barrel in the Solera is ever emptied, and over time, the older whiskey in the Solera mingled with the younger whiskies to create unmatched depth and complexity.”}

– From the Hillrock Estate Distillery website

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, I shared this whiskey neat from Glencairn glasses with daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah and daughter Elora.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

HILLROCK SOLERA AGED BOURBON NOSE:

Hillrock Solera has many aromas I rarely get in bourbon, but all are fresh and welcoming. Upon taking the first draw, I sense a bit of an alcohol nip and elements of dried fruit tree blossoms. Continued nosing brings fresh lemon zest and tropical hints of banana and pineapple in a spice blend of ginger, white pepper and rye. I also get light molasses and lots of brown sugar. There’s not much wood on the nose, maybe a little light oak, but to me it’s more like piney sawdust.

HILLROCK SOLERA AGED BOURBON PALATE:

Each sip of Hillrock Solera is easy to hold yet with a strong Kentucky Chew, the mouth gets a warm bite of alcohol. In the mouth I sense a potpourri of dried fruit tree blossoms but few if any other elements of flora. Raisins and figs are about the only fruits I get and they are heavily seasoned in ginger. black and green pepper and rye. Each sip is accompanied by brown sugar, but not in the normal sense. It’s more like the brown sugar one might get in the milk in the bottom of the bowl after being sprinkled on Cheerios. I get very little woodiness in my sips, but what is there is similar to the smoke once might get from toasted wood.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Hillrock Solera is simple and well balanced. There are not many traditional bourbon aromas or flavors, yet at the same time many unexpected subtilties. It has an oily mouthfeel, but it will tickle the tongue, mouth and throat on each swallow. In the Glencairn, a liquid curtain gives way to fast falling legs which transports the whiskey back to the auburn colored pool as it is sipped. And the crown left behind is a near perfect wisp of a ring with few if any droplets to obscure the view.

HILLROCK SOLERA AGED BOURBON FINISH:

Hillrock Solera has a medium long throat warming burn, much more than one might expect from a 92+ Proof bourbon. There aren’t many flavors in the finish and all are quite faint. Maybe some pepper and brown sugar mixed in piney char, but certainly not a traditional bourbon finish … yet it’s nice. And when the last dram is downed, fresh cut oak wafts from the empty Glencairn.

MY RATING: 86/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
But I won’t go looking for Hillrock Solera. I am happy to have a fresh bourbon like this on the shelf, but won’t reach for it often.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 86/100 to access other whiskies with this score.

HILLROCK SOLERA AGED BOURBON TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Angel’s Envy Whiskey Review

Posted on 28-January-202009-May-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Angel’s Envy Whiskey Review

Batch 70 Z; Bottle #4110

Original review written January 25, 2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

I’ve been quite excited to try this, but I come away a little disappointed with this slightly bitter offering. I’m hoping my disappointment is limited to this batch and bottle, and that our other purchased bottle will be an improvement. Read my full Angel’s Envy Whiskey Review for Batch 70 Z here! 82/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Angel’s Envy Distillery
– Classification: Special port barrel finish Kentucky Whiskey
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=72%; Rye=18%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #3
– Special Finish: Finished in port barrels, then hand-blended in batches of 8-12 barrels at a time*
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 43.3% (96.6 proof)
– Price: $46.95 USD in Idaho

*Visit angelsenvy.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the whiskey neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this whiskey here!

SETTING:

The air is a bitter cold with wind and snowflakes swirling around you as you run to take cover in a snow-dusted, red barn. The color of the structure alone is enough to pressure your legs and feet to a faster and more urgent pace, the promise of warmth and shelter looming ahead.

Photo by James Ahlberg on Unsplash

NOSE:

There is a mix of black pepper, brown sugar, and also barrel char that is the most obvious on the initial inhales. It makes for a spicy feel overall, with leather and the wine/port element keeping the undertones very rich and earthy. The wine/port also adds a subtle bit of sweetness, along with baked blackberries.

Deep inhales flaunt the alcohol, but it’s quite gentle – not to be confused with the aforementioned spiciness and newfound allspice. In the same deep inhales, there’s a nutty flavor that comes forward, like buttered pecans perhaps. Aside from the sweet, yet spicy, barrel char, specific wood is unrecognizable.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: A little watery, but still quite soft. Not the worst I’ve had, but not the best either.
– Balance: It seems a little confused – wanting to be sweet, but it’s also bitter.
– Visual: A hazy/smoky auburn in color, there is a broken crown of droplets and legs, but there are mostly clinging droplets.

– Taste: Wine grapes come forward on the first sip, but there’s a smoky or perhaps dusty rye that reminds me that this is still a whiskey at the end of the day. There are raisins here too, keeping with the grape theme.

The nut from the nose seems to be more like hazelnuts, as there is a bitterness that is coupled with the sweetness of the grapes. I can’t decide whether I like it or not.

There’s maybe a toffee here too, but it’s also on the bitter side, as though something got burned in the cooking process.

Some cherries and rye peek out with a Kentucky chew, but the overall taste still seems slightly bitter in nature. It isn’t awful, or even bad, but knowing that there are less bitter offerings at this same price point is something I can’t help but consider.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. There is no warmth left over, but the aftertaste is quite proficient at lingering.
– Between Sips: A strange bitter (again) flavor, but I also taste a grape-y essence between sips, and it is quite good at persisting for a long time. I taste it the most at the back of my tongue, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot get it to go away. Despite other issues with this whiskey, the aftertaste is where I’m struggling the most… It’s just not great.

– No More: I suppose I can find some wood; however, again, it is indistinct. It’s hazy, but it’s also chewy. This could be the source of the bitterness, so I don’t think it’s oak. As my father suggests in his review of this Angel’s Envy batch, it could be be the port barrel and therefore, potentially not the whiskey barrel. Along with the possible wood, the cherry sneaks out more, which is nice.

The empty Glencairn is very oaky and it is not bitter at all. I would have loved to get those flavors in the palate, but here’s to hoping other batches and bottles prove more enjoyable, and I do sincerely look forward to experimenting more with batches.

WORTH THE PRICE?

I’ll have to take a look at our other bottle’s batch offering; however, at is stands, I’m not sure that this is quite worth the price. Still, this isn’t awful, and I will look forward to seeing what our other bottle offers.

RATING: 82/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 82/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.

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Whiskey Reviews

Angel’s Envy Batch 70-Z Review

Posted on 27-January-202010-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Angel’s Envy Review:

posted on 26-January-2020

ANGEL’S ENVY BATCH 70-Z REVIEW:

NOTE: This review is from Batch 70-Z which I’ve had in my bunker since July 2019, but it was in the Idaho State Liquor Division’s warehouse prior to that. I will update my review when a bottle from a new batch is opened.

Angel’s Envy Batch 70-Z is bourbon and wine on the nose, in the mouth and at the finish which is to be expected from a port barrel finished bourbon. It is a fresh and clean juice and this batch well balanced. Still I expected a bit more from a bottle at this price point.

ANGEL’S ENVY BATCH 70-Z VITAL STATS:

– Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Finished in Port Barrels, then hand blended in batches of 8 to 12 barrels at a time.
– Region: Louisville, KY, USA
– Distillery: Angel’s Envy Distillery
– Mash Bill: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley
– Barrel Char: #3
– Barrel entry proof: 125
– Age: nas
– ABV: 43.3% (96.6 Proof)
– Batch #: 70 Z
– Bottle #: 4110
– Price: $46.95 USD in Idaho

Learn more at https://angelsenvy.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, I shared the juice neat from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

NOSE:

I picked up a blast of corn on the first waft from the Glencairn from this batch of Angel’s Envy. On the second and subsequent nosings, the draws were dry, with a faint burn and they were full of bourbon and wine. The dusty corn wains but never truly drifts away as scents of fresh citrus – orange rind, Maraschino cherries and dark stone fruit come forward. Its spices present as well mixed allspice and rye. The sweetness is more candy-like than sugary: vanilla taffy and candy corn with a faint hint of orange blossom honey in the mix for good measure. This bottle is simple and gentle with hints of faint leather and a trace of walnuts peeking into hazy, toasted light oak. It is fresh and clean on the nose.

PALATE:

There is a quick burn then warmth as the juice is first sipped. Bourbon and wine are at the forefront as grassiness and green vegetables (maybe Brussel sprouts???) come forward. The citrus detected on the nose enters the mouth as orange marmalade. There are also fruits of fig and current. The juice is full of cloves, ginger, pepper, rye, and loads of warm Christmas spices. Any trace of sweetness detected on the nose is gone and is replaced with nice earthy old leather, and bitter walnuts and there is plenty of woody, smoky-sweet char and seasoned old oak.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
This batch of Angel’s Envy is balanced and well blended, viscous and oily in the mouth and thoroughly pleasant to sip. In the Glencairn, droplets cling then return in long slow dropping legs to the light mahogany pool.

FINISH:

Angel’s Envy finishes with medium length and gives the throat a nice warm tickle. As on the nose and in the mouth there are traces of bourbon and wine (its port influence) which mix with a trace of green vegetables and faint citrus. Its spices of cloves and rye are greatly diminished and a faint burnt sugar sweetness returns. As the dram is drawn down, earthy old leather, hazy barrel char and seasoned old oak waft from the empty Glencairn.

MY RATING: 86/100

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
But it won’t be a must have in the bunker.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 86/100 to access other whiskies with this score.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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